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The National Research Foundation (NRF) ratings are considered the benchmark for research excellence. This year the University of the Free State (UFS) has 17 newly NRF-rated researchers. This brings the total number of NRF-rated researchers at UFS to 160.
NRF ratings are allocated based on a researcher’s recent research outputs and impact as perceived by national and international peer reviewers. The rating system encourages researchers to publish high-quality research papers in journals of high impact and to publish books through reputed academic publishers. The NRF rating system is a valuable tool for benchmarking the quality of our researchers against the best in the world.
Research at the heart of the UFS
Prof Francis Petersen, Rector and Vice-Chancellor, has indicated that the UFS provides significant support to researchers to apply for new NRF ratings or to re-apply for rating. These initiatives include the mock NRF rating panels managed by the Prestige Scholars Programme (PSP), evaluation of individual research outputs and recommendations on timely applying for rating, and improvements on rating applications by a panel consisting of internal and external members. These initiatives are bearing fruit by increasing the number of rated researchers who will transform the research profile and increase the diversity of UFS researchers.
Cultivating the best researchers.
According to Eleanor van der Westhuizen, from Research Development: “The rating of individuals is based primarily on the quality and impact of their research outputs over the past eight years, taking into consideration the evaluation made by local and international peers. It identifies researchers who count among the leaders in their fields of expertise and gives recognition to those who have a sustained production of high-quality research outputs. Several South African universities use the outcomes of the NRF evaluation and rating process to position themselves as research-intensive institutions, while others such as the UFS provide incentives for their staff members to acquire and maintain a rating.”
Cream of the crop
The UFS has also upped the ante with regard to its total number of NRF-rated researchers during the latest rating and evaluation, with an increase from 149 to 160 rated researchers in 2018.
Prof Heidi Hudson, Dean of Humanities, received an NRF B-rating, which brings the total of B-rated researchers to six. Other B-rated researchers incude Prof Johann Meyer (Mathematics), Prof Fanie Snyman and Prof Francois Tolmie (Theology), Prof Felicity Burt (Medical Microbiology) and Prof Andre Roodt (Chemistry). A total number of 10 new C-ratings and six new Y-ratings were achieved during the 2018 evaluation process.
“NRF-rating is indicative of the university’s drive to enhance its research profile nationally and internationally. Congratulations to all the scientists and scholars who received a rating in 2017. I am thankful to our academics for their commitment to the rating process,” said Prof Corli Witthuhn, Vice-Rector: Research at the UFS.
UFS hosts the 2017 SAIMS Conference
2017-09-21
The hosts of the 2017 SAIMS conference:
Dr Jacques Nel
(UFS:Business Management), Prof Francis Petersen
(UFS Rector and Vice-Chancellor),
Dr Werner Vermeulen (HOD of UFS: Business Management),
Dr Habofanwe Koloba (UFS: Business Management),
and Prof Hendri Kroukamp
(UFS: Dean of Economic and Management Sciences).
Photo: Supplied
The University of the Free State’s (UFS) Department of Business Management recently hosted the 29th South African Institute of Management Scientists (SAIMS) conference at Kopano Nokeng in Bloemfontein. This year’s theme, ‘Management Research: Science Serving Practice’ focused on the importance of sharing our results and making it relevant and usable to different communities.
Prof Petersen motivates researchers to become part of the business cycle
On the first day of the conference, the Rector and Vice-Chancellor of the UFS, Prof Francis Peterson, welcomed 148 delegates from 18 different institutions (academic and professional) to the City of Roses. He motivated them to keep on doing highly scholarly research by being part of the business cycles.
Prof Adré Schreuder, founder of Consulta (Pty) Ltd, was the keynote speaker of the conference. He highlighted four personas needed to further enhance and develop the science-practice alignment in market research and business. “The first skills persona is called a Social Media Maven, which is in line with the rapid growth of social media networks and the growing need for social media analytics. Then there is the Data Synthesiser that supports the growth trend in Big Data and Advanced analytics, which are both driven by technological innovation and the enormous volume of available data. The third one is Marketing Strategist, which has strong representation in brand and advertising research in our industry. Lastly, we have the ‘Business Consultant’ which aligns with the industry trends towards deeper insights and consultative skills required to move beyond mere reporting, but rather getting involved in the design and implementation of recommendations.”
Conference to collaborate academics and business
Dr Werner Vermeulen, SAIMS 2017 Conference Chair, says, “This conference will underpin the need for collaboration and cooperation of individuals from the academic environment and the business world itself.” He says the conference will also provide a wonderful forum to refresh knowledge and explore contemporary trends and future-based business research.
Delegates were also given the opportunity to dress up to the carnival theme and were entertained by a fire dancer and magician. They had the honour of indulging in two Kovsie-produced food products, the St Dairy organic cheese and exotic mushrooms by Mushroom House.